Delaware County Death Records

Delaware County death records are held at the Delaware Public Health District on South Sandusky Street in downtown Delaware. If you need a death certificate for someone who died in this county, you can get one in person, by phone, by mail, or through an online service. The county keeps death records going back to 1867, which is further back than most Ohio counties. Delaware County is one of the fastest growing areas in the state, and its vital statistics office handles a large volume of requests each year. You can also search for older records at the Delaware County Probate Court for deaths filed before the state took over in 1908.

Where to Get Delaware County Death Records

The Delaware Public Health District is the main source for death certificates in Delaware County. Their vital statistics office sits at 470 South Sandusky Street, Delaware, OH 43015. You can call them at 740-368-1700 or fax requests to 740-368-1736. The office issues certified copies of death certificates for deaths that took place in Delaware County. Walk-in service is the fastest way. Phone orders work too.

Mail requests cost $25 per certified copy. Send your payment by check or money order to the health district at the address above. You can also reach the office by email at rhess@delawarehealth.org if you have questions about how to file your request. The staff can tell you what information they need and how long it will take. Most walk-in requests are done the same day. Mail orders can take a week or two depending on volume.

The image below shows the VitalChek portal where you can order Delaware County death records online.

VitalChek adds a processing fee on top of the base $25 certificate cost, but it lets you pay by credit card and track your order online.

How to Search Death Records in Delaware County

To find a death record in Delaware County, you need the full name of the person who died and the approximate date of death. Having the parents' names helps narrow the search. The vital statistics staff will look through their files and let you know if they find a match. For deaths that happened in Delaware County from 1867 to the present, the health district has the records. If the death happened in another Ohio county, you must contact that county's health department instead. Death records are filed where the death took place, not where the person lived.

You can also search through the Ohio Court Records portal for Delaware County. This site provides information about accessing vital records and court documents in Delaware County. It lists the health district contact details and gives instructions on what you need for your request.

The screenshot below shows the Ohio Court Records page for Delaware County death records and vital statistics.

This resource covers not just death records but also other public records you may need from Delaware County offices.

Delaware County Probate Court Death Records

The Delaware County Probate Court holds death records from 1867 through December 19, 1908. These older records predate the statewide registration system that Ohio started on December 20, 1908. The Probate Court is at 145 North Union Street, P.O. Box 8006, Delaware, Ohio 43015. You can call them at 740-833-2680 or fax at 740-833-2679.

The Probate Court handles more than just old death records. They also deal with estate administration, guardianships, adoptions, marriage licenses, name changes, trusts, and mental commitment records. If you are researching a family member who died in Delaware County before 1908, this is where you start. The records from that era vary in detail since each county kept its own system back then. Some entries are brief. Others have more information. It depends on who filed the record and when.

Delaware County Death Certificate Fees

Each certified copy of a Delaware County death certificate costs $25. This fee applies whether you order in person, by mail, by phone, or online. Cash, money order, and certified bank checks are accepted at the office. Credit and debit cards work for phone orders and online orders through VitalChek, though a convenience fee applies on top of the $25 base cost.

The state fee through the Ohio Department of Health is $21.50 per certified copy as of January 2025. But if you go through the state office, you can only get death records from 1954 to the present. For older records, the county health district is your best bet. The Ohio History Connection holds death records from 1908 through 1970, which can help with genealogy research. They cannot issue certified copies though. For a certified copy of an older record, contact the Delaware Public Health District directly.

Ohio Law and Delaware County Death Records

Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3705 governs how death records work in the state. Section 3705.16 requires that every death in Ohio be registered with the local registrar. The funeral director gathers personal facts and files the certificate. A doctor or coroner completes the medical section. This must happen within a few days of the death.

Section 3705.24 sets the fee rules for vital records in Ohio. The law says the fee for a certified copy cannot be less than $12. Delaware County charges $25, which includes both the local and state portions. Four dollars of each fee goes to the state office of vital statistics, and one dollar goes toward local health department subsidies. Section 3705.07 tells local registrars to number each certificate, sign it, keep a copy, and send the original to the state. The state then builds a permanent index of all deaths.

Section 3705.29 makes it a crime to falsify any vital record, including death certificates. Only a coroner or medical examiner may certify deaths that are violent, suspicious, or sudden.

Nearby Counties

Delaware County borders several other Ohio counties where you may also need to search for death records.

Cities in Delaware County

The city of Dublin spans parts of Delaware and Franklin counties. Residents can get death records from the health department in the county where the death took place.